1 2026:CGHC:14421 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 2816 of 2026 Prakash Kumar Singh S/o Bigu Singh Aged About 36 Years R/o Village Rekha, Police Station Kusmi, Tehsil Shankargarh, District- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Kusmi, District- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Sangeet Kumar Kushwaha, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Dr. Sourabh Pande, Dy. Advocate General. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 25.03.2026 1. This is the Second bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 39/2025 registered at Police Station Kusmi, District – Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 read with Section 120(B) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2026.03.28 15:59:03 +0530 2 2. The case of the prosecution in brief is that a written report was lodged at Police Station Ambikapur by the complainant, Shri Arvind Shrivastava, In-charge, District Co-operative Bank Limited, Ambikapur, alleging commission of criminal breach of trust and embezzlement of government funds amounting to Rs. 26,47,42,462.93 by twelve accused persons, namely, Vikas Chandra Pandvi, Ashok Kumar Soni, Aitbal Singh, Vijay Kumar Uike,Samal Sai, Jagdish Prasad, Tabarak Ali, Laxman Dewangan, Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Sudesh Kumar Yadav, the present applicant Prakash Kumar Singh, and Rajendra Prasad. It is alleged that certain complaints were received regarding irregularities and illegalities in the bank transactions, pursuant to which an enquiry team was constituted to examine the matter. During the course of enquiry, it was revealed that the alleged offence was committed through manipulation of several bank accounts, and substantial amounts were found to have been transferred to the accounts of some of the accused persons, Rs. 1,36,95,199.93 in the account of Ashok Kumar Soni, Rs. 46,44,841/-in the account of the present applicant, and Rs. 96,36,814/- in the account of Sudesh Kumar Yadav. It was further found that Rs. 30,00,000/-was illegally transferred through NEFT. In total, funds amounting to Rs. 26,47,42,462.93 were alleged to have been embezzled. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the present applicant is innocent person and has been falsely been implicated in the aforesaid case. It is further submitted that out of 13 accused persons, 10 co- accused have already been granted bail by this Hon’ble High Court vide orders dated 13.10.2025 and 07.01.2026 in various MCRC matters and therefore, the present applicant is also entitled to bail on 3 the ground of parity. The complete order sheet has also been filed as Annexure A/4. It is further submitted that there is no likelihood of the applicant tampering with the prosecution evidence, and the applicant is ready and willing to cooperate with the trial and shall not do any act prejudicial to the proceedings. The applicant is a young person and has been in judicial custody since 27.05.2025, therefore, considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, it is prayed that the applicant be kindly enlarged on bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the bail application of the present applicant and submits that the charge-sheet has already been submitted before the competent Court in the present case. They further submit that in compliance with this Hon’ble Court’s order dated 28.08.2025, the Investigating Officer of the aforesaid case submitted an affidavit stating that an FIR bearing Crime No. 39/2025 was registered at Police Station Kusmi, District Balrampur–Ramanujganj (C.G.) against the present applicant and other co-accused persons for the offences punishable under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120- B, and 34 of the IPC, 1860 [corresponding to Sections 316(5), 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023], on the basis of a complaint made by the Branch Manager, District Cooperative Bank, Ambikapur. It is alleged that the co-accused persons, including bank employees, misappropriated government funds through 10–15 fake accounts. Upon detection, the CEO, Janpad Panchayat Shankargarh, constituted an inquiry committee, which found financial irregularities in 138 entries and estimated misappropriation of Rs.26,47,82,462.93/- during 2013–14 to 2023–24. During investigation, it was revealed that Rs. 19.22 crores were withdrawn from the account 4 of Aadim Jati Samiti, Jamdi Saan, Rs. 91.57 lakhs from CEO Janpad Panchayat Shankargarh, Rs. 3.19 crores from NREGA Dhaneshpur, and Rs. 40.54 lakhs were transferred to Jamuna Alankar, totaling Rs. 23.74 crores. A special audit conducted by M/s Tank Khatri & Associates further found illegal transfers of Rs. 1.36 crores to Ashok Kumar Soni, Rs. 46.44 lakhs to Prakash Kumar Singh, Rs. 96.36 lakhs to Sudesh Kumar Yadav, and Rs. 30 lakhs to Mahamaya Construction, totaling Rs. 26.47 crores. It is further submitted that the applicant was arrested on 01.06.2025. During investigation, his memorandum was recorded wherein he admitted that M/s Jamuna Alankar, located at Brahm Road, Ambikapur, is a family-run jewellery business operated by him, and that Ashok Kumar Soni used to purchase jewellery since 2017, making online payments from his bank accounts. He stated that payments totaling Rs. 1.82 crores were received between 2018–2021, though invoices were not issued for some transactions. It also submitted that the investigation alleges that all accused persons, including the applicant, conspired to misappropriate government funds through fake accounts and illegal transactions, thereby committing offences under Section 120-B IPC, therefore, looking to the seriousness of the case, the applicant is not entitled for grant of regular bail in the present case. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties and upon perusal of the case diary, it is evident that a written report was lodged at Police Station Ambikapur by the complainant, Shri 5 Arvind Shrivastava, In-charge, District Co-operative Bank Limited, Ambikapur, alleging commission of criminal breach of trust and large- scale embezzlement of government funds amounting to Rs. 26,47,42,462.93 by the accused persons, including the present applicant. The allegations reveal that upon receipt of complaints regarding serious irregularities and illegalities in bank transactions, an enquiry team was constituted, and during the course of enquiry, it surfaced that the offence was committed through systematic manipulation of multiple bank accounts. It has further come on record that substantial amounts were transferred into the accounts of the accused persons, including an amount of Rs. 46,44,841/- credited into the account of the present applicant, thereby prima facie indicating his direct involvement in the alleged offence. The magnitude of the embezzlement, involving diversion of public funds exceeding Rs. 26 crores, and the manner in which the offence has been committed, clearly reflects a well-planned economic offence having serious ramifications on public interest. It is also pertinent to note that the bail application of co-accused Sudesh Kumar Yadav has already been rejected by this Court, and therefore, the applicant cannot claim parity. Considering that the present application is the second bail application and there is no material change in circumstances since rejection of the earlier application, coupled with the gravity and seriousness of the allegations, this Court is of the considered opinion that no case for grant of bail is made out. Accordingly, the second bail application filed by the applicant deserves to be and is hereby rejected. 7. Accordingly, the second bail application of the applicant – Prakash 6 Kumar Singh, involved in Crime No. 39/2025 registered at Police Station Kusmi, District – Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 read with Section 120(B) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is rejected. 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice vaibhav